Compare towns
Ludlow vs Walpole vs Springfield vs Chicopee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ludlow has the oldest population (median age 44.3).
Walpole has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Springfield has the youngest population (median age 33.7).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ludlow | Walpole | Springfield | Chicopee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 20,904Lowest |
26,388 |
154,749Highest |
55,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.5%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+1.9% MA: +7.4% |
+0.5% MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±1.8Highest 11% above MA |
40.9±1.2 about the MA average |
33.7±0.5Lowest 16% below MA |
41.9±1.4 5% above MA |
| Ludlow and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±2.4Lowest MA: 19.4% |
25.1%±2.4Highest MA: 19.4% |
24.2%±0.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.2%±1.7 MA: 19.4% |
| Walpole and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±2.5Highest MA: 17.9% |
16.9%±1.7 MA: 17.9% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest MA: 17.9% |
19.5%±1.4 MA: 17.9% |
| Ludlow and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27% MA: 47.3% |
67.4%Highest MA: 47.3% |
20.5%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
22.9% MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.7 MA: 7.9% |
5.1%±1.1 MA: 7.9% |
7.5%±0.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
3.7%±0.6Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $84,838±$7k 18% below MA |
$171,500±$16kHighest 65% above MA |
$52,656±$2kLowest 49% below MA |
$62,615±$6k 40% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$10k 40% below MA |
$687,100±$20kHighest 22% above MA |
$245,000±$4kLowest 56% below MA |
$274,500±$8k 51% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,223±$82 31% below MA |
$2,205±$222Highest 25% above MA |
$1,144±$55Lowest 35% below MA |
$1,157±$50 34% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,918 18% below MA |
$8,523Highest 42% above MA |
$3,695Lowest 38% below MA |
$3,847 36% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.7%±9.5 MA: 51.8% |
37.8%±9.1Lowest MA: 51.8% |
57.7%±3.1Highest MA: 51.8% |
52%±5.6 MA: 51.8% |
| Springfield and Chicopee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% MA: 10% |
3.6%Lowest MA: 10% |
25.8%Highest MA: 10% |
17.3% MA: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.5% MA: 62.5% |
83.5%Highest MA: 62.5% |
49.6%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
55.7% MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964 same as MA |
1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1952Lowest 12 yrs older than MA |
1958 6 yrs older than MA |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 31% below MA |
34 minHighest 15% above MA |
20 min 31% below MA |
21 min 27% below MA |
| Work from home | 14%±3.4 MA: 18.6% |
28.2%±4.3Highest MA: 18.6% |
8.4%±0.9 MA: 18.6% |
8%±1.8Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #154 of 282 in MA | #107 of 282 in MA | #276 of 282 in MA | #247 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ludlow | Norfolk County Agricultural · Walpole | Springfield | Chicopee |
| High school in town | Ludlow Senior High | Walpole High | Springfield Central High | Chicopee Comprehensive High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
11.3 |
12.2Highest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.